Be in France for Bastille Day

“The restaurants of Place Carnot were packed. We ate outside. #enterrace. Couples danced to old bal musette tunes, played by a live band. Même pas peur. Then everybody decamped for la Cité and the big show. People walked calmly. Even after fireworks began, there was no pushing. Politeness and civility reigned. I felt utterly safe, not even worried about pickpockets, not even after the street lights were extinguished. Going back home, some sang–silly songs, la Marseillaise. I got goosebumps and felt an overwhelming love for all this humanity.”

“Our morning began with the Running of the Bulls! This was a 'controlled' running where the bulls are escorted by horsemen through the town streets but still exciting as random bulls escaped the pack and headed for the crowd! Whilst the streets were lined with sturdy barriers a lot of people were outside of these barriers. I was not that silly! If I had of been my photos would probably have been better so sorry about that ;) I couldn't believe people were standing outside the barriers with children!!”

“After the show, we hung out on the Champs de Mars for about 30 minutes to wait for the crowds to die down, then we walked back to the Foyer. Well, at least part of the way, since we managed to find a metro station that wasn't too crowded eventually. The city was unbelievable that night. There were drunk people spilling out of bars everywhere, tourists wandering around lost, police cars, traffic jams at 1:30am, people wandering the streets everywhere, twenty-somethings wandering around singing La Marseillaise and drinking songs while swinging bottles of wine and cheap champagne...it was definitely a night to remember.”